Sonia Gandhi to undergo operation for undisclosed condition

Aug 4, 2011, 10:26 GMT

New Delhi - India's ruling Congress party chief Sonia Gandhi is to undergo surgery for an undisclosed medical condition, it was announced Thursday.

Congress spokesman Janardhan Dwivedi told reporters in the Indian capital that the 64-year-old leader, who is abroad, was recently advised to undergo surgery.

Dwivedi initially announced that the surgery had taken place later but retracted his statement.

'A clarification, my message caused some confusion. Her condition is fine, but the operation is yet to take place. Doctors will decide on whether the surgery is to be performed in a day or two,' he said.

The party did not reveal Gandhi's medical condition or where she was undergoing treatment. Gandhi is reported to be in the United States for treatment.

Gandhi would be abroad for two to three weeks to recuperate and had named a group to look after party affairs in her absence, Dwivedi said.

The group consists of Defence Minister AK Antony, her political advisor Ahmed Patel, her son and party general secretary Rahul Gandhi and Dwivedi.

Gandhi, widow of former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi, is currently the president of the Congress Party, the leading partner in India's ruling coalition government, and one of India's most powerful politicians.

She turned down an opportunity to become India's first foreign- born prime minister after leading her alliance to a win in the 2004 general elections.